Former LA police chief will head inquiry into pepper spray use at UC Davis

by Tami Abdollah

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Former LAPD Chief William Bratton will head an inquiry into the police use-of-force against peaceful protesters at UC Davis. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Former Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton will lead an independent inquiry into the pepper spray incident at UC Davis and report back results within 30 days, according to a release from the UC President's office.

UC President Mark G. Yudof agreed to a written request by UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi to conduct a review of Friday's events when police pepper sprayed peaceful protesters on the university campus.

Bratton, who led the NYPD, is now chairman of Kroll, a New York-based investigative firm. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

"My intent is to provide the Chancellor and the entire University of California community with an independent, unvarnished report about what happened at Davis," Yudof said in the release.

Bratton's report will be presented to an advisory panel Yudof is forming at Katehi's request. The panel will consist of students, faculty, staff and other UC community members. The panel will review the report and make recommendations to Katehi on steps to improve the safety of protesters on campus.

Yudof also appointed UC General Counsel Charles Robinson and UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Christopher Edley Jr. to lead a systemwide examination of police protocols and policies on all 10 UC campuses.

"The right to peaceful protest on all of our campuses must be protected," Yudof said.